A Campaign to save New England: CLF is New England's most effective environmental advocacy group. The Campaign for CLF will provide critical resources, so we can continue defending the law of the land-for generations to come.

• Author: Johnston, Matthew
• Position: The Campaign For CLF

A LOCAL MAGAZINE once referred to New England as "The Best Place on Earth." Was that pure chauvinism, or the studied conclusion of some who had seen it all? CLFers are discreet folks. We don't deal in bests, but as part of the most effective environmental advocacy organization in this blessed region, we're certainly trying to make it the best. Which is why achieving financial stability--through The Campaign for CLF--is so important. It will make a discernible difference in every New England state, and we're happy to say that the Campaign is edging closer to its total goal of $15 million.

The Campaign's $10 million endowment goal, when added to CLF's current endowment, will provide approximately 12% of our annual operating budget. This will enhance our security and flexibility, and give us greater capacity for long-range planning. It will also allow us to provide more dependable funding to our five advocacy centers--in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The $4.5 million Urgent Action Fund goal of the Campaign will provide essential capital for advocacy in the early stages of major cases. Often, in CLF's 36-year history, we've been forced to respond to urgent environ mental threats within days. We haven't hesitated, but it would be much better for New England if CLF didn't have to postpone less time-sensitive cases in order to tackle urgent ones.

The $500,000 portion of Campaign funds that will support facilities enhancements is for the recently completed renovation and expansion of our Southern New England Advocacy Center--on Boston's Summer Street. The building sets a "green" standard for energy efficiency, which is the kind of example our growing list of admirers expects of us--and deserves.

Our financial future is bright. There could be no better time to recognize the efforts of some who have made it so, and no better person with whom to start than the chair of The Campaign for CLF--and of the boards of trustees, directors, and CLF Ventures, Inc.--Charles C. Cabot, Jr., Esq.

Charlie is a visionary. He speaks often of the nexus between a financially healthy CLF and a bright environmental future for New England. He recently cited our work with Boston Harbor, "clean now, as a result of our initiative. It will bring a lot of business to the city, because the waterfront is a far more pleasant place to visit than it once was. And most of our other successful cases are also the result of both good conservation...